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The trade of the week is not a multimillion-dollar transfer of Ronaldinho or Cristiano Ronaldo, but the move from the New England Revs to the Roman Catholic Church by Chase Hilgenbrinck. He has just given up his place on the New England roster to enter a six-year apprenticeship to become a priest. His soccer salary, a reported $36,000 a season, would not interest the gifted Brazilians who expect to earn that in a day. However, once Hilgenbrinck's story was out on The Associated Press wire on Monday, it was rapidly headlined from Latin America to Asia, Europe to the South...

ZE08073008 - 2008-07-30 Number of Priests on Rise in Latin America Region Faces Challenges Regarding Vocations BOGOTA, Colombia, JULY 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The number of priests in Latin America and the Caribbean increased from 2000 to 2005, though the situation of vocations faces various challenges. A team within the Latin American bishops' council collected and analyzed the vocational statistics from 22 countries for the five-year period. Overall, there was an increase of 11.93% in the number of diocesan priests (from 37,884 to 42,405) and a slight decrease in the number of religious priests (from 24,186 to 23,945). During those years,...

Monday, June 9, 2008 Americans need not, no, do not, apply. The news from Chicago reports the ordination by Cardinal George of eleven new priests for the Archdiocese, none of whom were born in this country. Fifty-one years ago, 45 new priests were ordained for the Archdiocese, virtually all of whom were natives of the Chicago area. One wag commented that “priesthood is a job Americans won’t do today.” Another replied, “Not true. Those who can’t make it in the competitive job market can become priests as late vocations and be secure for life, especially nice if they are gay“....

20 February 2008 Permission has been granted... His Eminence, Franc Cardinal Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has communicated permission to establish a monastery for the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration here in San Antonio. We can now prepare in earnest for the arrival of five nuns from Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. They will be taking up residence in our St. Joseph Parish House. There is, of course, a chapel there with the Blessed Sacrament, although they will be attending Mass ordinarily here at the parish....

When I was growing up, we were urged to pray for vocations.  That meant to pray for more priests and nuns.  After all, they were the ones especially called by God.  The rest of us had to figure out for ourselves what to do with our lives, what school to go to, who to marry, what job to get.This was a misunderstanding that the Second Vatican Council was determined to clear up. It emphasized what this Sunday's second reading from St. Paul makes clear — that all Christians have a vocation (Lumen Gentium, chapter 5).  The very first call we...

Called to be Church, our pastoral planning process to ensure the viability and vitality of the Church of Albany in the early years of the 21st century, has been underway for 18 months. All 165 parishes in our diocese have been involved.Our 39 local planning groups, each comprised of participants from several parishes, have met many times. Members have gotten to know each other, familiarized themselves with pastoral activities in each other's parishes, and reviewed the mission of the Church in the areas of prayer and worship, evangelization, faith formation, Christian service and stewardship.They have increased their understanding of the...

Two men, with plenty of life experience, on path to priesthood Rev. Mr. Tom Layton and Rev. Mr. Fred Anthony stand as ordination candidates.Sentinel photo by Kim Nguyen A 63-year-old former Federal Aviation Administration worker and a 54-year-old retired Air Force officer were ordained deacons Saturday on their paths to becoming priests for the Archdiocese of Portland. Rev. Mr. Tom Layton and Rev. Mr. Fred Anthony both spent their youths in Coos Bay, were married, and after their careers entered a special seminary for older men.“Both Tom and Fred have been filled with genuine Christian hope as they not only...

San Antonio, TX, Aug 22, 2007 / 03:00 pm (CNA).- The Archdiocese of San Antonio has many things to be thankful for, but on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, Archbishop Jose Gomez was able to give it one more reason to express gratitude, a new dormitory for the seminary. Present for the dedication of the new building were Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, bishops, priests, seminarians, and the laity. Speaking of how Christians are called to believe in the Gospel, love and live entirely for God, and have missionary hearts as Mary did, Archbishop Gomez dedicated the new...

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A powerful sense of devotion overtook Michael Burbeck in a medieval church in the small Czech town of Cesky Krumlov. The way he describes it, he was praying in the lofty, 125-foot-high sanctuary of St. Vitus Roman Catholic Church, when he looked up at a life-size crucifix and was overwhelmed by a sense of peace and belonging. He realized he would commit the rest of his life to Jesus. "It was like the classic movie scene: Guy sees girl across the room, knows she's the one," Burbeck said. "I had this moment when I realized that (Jesus)...

Metro Atlanta's Roman Catholic churches are keeping their pulpits filled better than many regions of the country.Across the nation there is a shortage of priests, but the Archdiocese of Atlanta's 95 churches and missions have 262 priests and more than 50 seminarians in training. RELATED: • More Atlanta news "We have one of the strongest vocational programs in the country," said Father Luke Ballman, the director of vocations.About 600 Serrans, lay Catholics dedicated to supporting and educating those choosing church vocations, are in Atlanta this weekend for a national conference.Serra clubs across the country raise money for scholarships, organize prayer...

I'm not one to be shy about noting that the Church has had mistakes in her long, long history. These mistakes seemed to multiple after Vatican Two when the spirit of invention and make-believe possessed some in the leadership to hold and teach that the intent of the Council Fathers was inadequately expressed in the actual texts of the Council. Mistake after mistake followed. And they still follow. Here's a sure-fire way to ensure that your parish will almost never again have a resident pastor: the Parish Life Coordinator (PLC). From Pittsburgh we read: "In what the bishop who...

You think you know what factors pose a barrier to religious vocations? Think again. A group met in Chicago last month to discuss an emerging and growing barrier to vocations — financial debt, particularly that acquired from student loans. The Chicago-based Institute on Religious Life organized — and the Arlington, Va.-based Fraser Family Foundation sponsored — a diverse gathering of grant-makers, college presidents and vocation directors at Marytown Feb. 20-22 to examine the growing problem. As most religious orders will not accept someone with debt, it places many vocations in jeopardy. Brother Matthew Ball of the Franciscans of the Immaculate...

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Identical twins are among the newest priests in the Green Bay Catholic Diocese.Ben and Joel Sember were ordained yesterday along with Andrew Kyserly.James Sember, the twins' father, said he couldn't get them to apply any place else or do anything else.The twins will both serve in the Green Bay diocese, but say their ministries will be different.Joel Sember says that, although they have the same background and the same genes, they have different approach to things in general.His brother, Ben, says he hopes they don't ever get assigned to the same parish. He says it...

Heidi Bratton  Other Articles by Heidi BrattonPrinter Friendly Version   This Is the Body of Christ May 27, 2007 This is the final column on Catholic vocations (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5) and what parents can do to help children discern their vocation. Recently I had the privilege of attending the diocesan Pro-Life Mass at St. Julie Billiart Church in North Dartmouth, MA. It was a beautiful event celebrated by Bishop Coleman of the Fall River diocese, with over ten priests and deacons, and attended by laypeople and school children from all over the...

A Home Where Vocations Grow12 Things Parents Can Do Want to help your children discern whether they’re called to religious life, or to married or single life in the world? These suggestions can help. Why not focus on two or three this Lent? 1.  Talk with your kids about their gifts and abilities, about the importance of their contribution to the church and the world. They should know that every Christian, young or old, has a part to play in building up the body of Christ. 2.  Pray for vocations as a family—for singles, married couples, priests, and religious....

Heidi Bratton  Other Articles by Heidi BrattonPrinter Friendly Version   Brothers and Sisters in Christ May 13, 2007 This is the fourth in a series (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) of columns on Catholic vocations, and what parents can do to help children discern their vocations.  For an in-depth look at the vocational life of religious sisters and brothers, I attended a "Day of Discernment for Women Interested in Religious Life" in Boston. I took fifteen pages of notes, spoke with over half of the forty women gathered, and listened to Cardinal O'Malley, who is a member of the...

Heidi Bratton  Other Articles by Heidi BrattonPrinter Friendly Version   Living Single and Celibate in God’s Service [Part Three of a series on Celibacy] -- Catholic Caucus May 6, 2007 This is the third in a series (Part 1, Part 2) of columns on Catholic vocations and what parents can do to help their children discern their vocation.  Previously I introduced the idea that as Catholics we are all members of the Body of Christ, the Catholic Vocational Village, and discussed the lay vocation of marriage and family life.In our Village there are three other vocational states:  remaining single and celibate,...

Heidi Bratton  Other Articles by Heidi BrattonPrinter Friendly Version   It Takes a Village of Vocations [Part Two of a series on Celibacy] -- Catholic Caucus May 3, 2007 This is the second column in a series (Part 1) on the different vocations available to Catholics, remaining single and celibate, entering consecrated religious life, or getting married, and how we might help our children discern God's vocational calling for their lives. Here I will focus on the usefulness of the vocation of marriage to the worldwide Body of Christ or the "Catholic Village," and how we parents can joyfully transmit the vocational...

Heidi Bratton  Other Articles by Heidi BrattonPrinter Friendly Version   Father, Mother, Sister, Brother [Part One of a series on Celibacy] -- Catholic Caucus April 22, 2007 As 21st century American parents, we put a great deal of focus on preparing our children for the future, be it through visually stimulating baby toys, memory-enhancing music lessons, or intelligence boosting tutoring.  Before any of these earthly things can be of aid to our children, however, we must first prepare the soil of their souls to know that God has a vision, a use for their abilities that far transcends résumé...

04/29/2007 VATICANTogether with Mary, say “yes” to Christ, and pray for vocationsIn front of 40 thousand people, Benedict XVI, asks everyone to pray for priests, those who form them and families, so that they may nurture the seed of those called to follow Christ the Good Shepherd. Vatican City (Asia News) – Today’s Regina Caeli prayer was also dedicate to the theme of vocations.  Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study overlooking St Peter’s square, after his ordination of 22 priests, which took place in the basilica.  The square was filled with over 40 thousand people, among them...

Seminary Applications Increase for 4th Straight Year LONDON, APRIL 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic Church of England and Wales released statistics showing that the number of those entering seminary has increased for the fourth straight year. In 2003 the figure stood at 28; last year this had risen to 44, bringing the total number of men studying for the priesthood for the dioceses of England and Wales to 150. Father Paul Embery, director of the National Office for Vocations, welcomed the rise, but remained only cautiously optimistic. "After several decades of decline in the number of those training for the...

 At 30 years old, Sister Danielle Gonzalez is the youngest of 19 nuns at the community of Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon. No lightning-bolt moment brought Danielle Gonzalez to the convent at St. Joseph's Provincial Center, just a gentle and consistent call that only she could hear.  Gonzalez, 30, who grew up in Pequannock, was a senior at the College of New Jersey who enjoyed wearing Jones New York suits by day and dancing at clubs with friends by night. She earned a black belt in karate before the idea of becoming a nun ever entered...

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 1, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the Vatican translation of the answers Benedict XVI gave to questions posed by seminarians of the Roman Major Seminary, during the Popes visit there Feb. 17. Part 2 of the questions and answers will be published on Friday. * * * VISIT TO THE COMMUNITY OF THE ROMAN MAJOR SEMINARY ON OCCASION OF THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF TRUST ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Saturday, 17 February 2007 Gregorpaolo Stano, Diocese of Oria (First-Year Philosophy): Your Holiness, ours is the first of two years dedicated to discernment, during which we...

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 2, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is the Vatican translation of the answers Benedict XVI gave to questions posed by seminarians of the Roman Major Seminary, during the Pope's visit there Feb. 17. Part 1 of the questions and answers was published Thursday. * * * Koicio Dimov, Diocese of Nicopolis, Bulgaria (Second-Year Theology): Most Blessed Father, commenting on the Way of the Cross in 2005, you spoke of the dirt in the Church; and in the Homily for the ordination of the Roman priests last year, you warned us of the risk "of careerism, the attempt to get...

VideoArchdiocese of New York Vocation's Web Site Has God called you tolay down your life? We believe that God is calling many young men to the priesthood. Could you be one of those men? Has anybody ever said to you that you would make a good priest? Have you thought about the idea, but tried to put it out of your mind? We challenge you now to consider it. Ask the Lord through prayer and the sacraments whether or not you are being called to continue the work of His Son to save souls. Could it be to serve His...

Editorial Six Habits of Highly Effective Dioceses Why are some dioceses better at attracting vocations than others? In Tim Drake’s recent story “Vocations Surge,” the Register provided some answers to that question. BY The Editors January 28- February 3, 2007 Issue Posted 1/23/07 at 8:00 AM Based on what we learned, here are six questions successful dioceses all answer “Yes.” 1. Is the Eucharist the center of vocation efforts? We found that the promotion of Eucharistic adoration for vocations is a decisive factor in attracting candidates. The reason is simple: It’s a vocations strategy that came from Christ himself, when...

Although homilists are more likely in this generation to mention marriage when they speak about vocations, the emphasis is still on the need for priests. Yet marriage is manifestly the vocation of most people. Demonstrably, it is also the key to all other vocations. Despite these realities, we have come to take for granted that 50% of all marriages will end in failure. Clearly, it is time to take a closer look at marriage. Natural Institution and SacramentMatrimony is unique among the sacraments in that it is a natural institution raised to the sacramental level. This alone tells us how...

Madrid, Jan 18, 2007 / 02:11 pm (CNA).- The renowned Italian journalist Vittorio Messori published an article recently in which he blasted one of the most popular myths of the day: that married priests would solve the “crisis of vocations.” Reprinted by the Spanish daily “La Razon,” Messori’s article notes, “The Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish communities are all undergoing similar ‘crisis of vocations’, if not greater, than that of the Catholic Church, despite the fact that their pastors, priests and rabbis can marry.” “Marriage, therefore, would not be the remedy for the shortage of priests,” Messori continued. “Nor would it...

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 11 No 7 (August 1998), p. 12 U.S. Priests and seminarians survey: more vocations in orthodox dioceses A comparative analysis of different 'styles’ of US dioceses was recently undertaken by Human Life International (HLI). The survey sought to compare the numbers of priests and seminarians in dioceses broadly typed as "orthodox" and "progressive". For the purposes of its study HLI defined an "orthodox" diocese as one that had exhibited a "general predisposition of fidelity towards the Magisterium since Vatican II." The term "progressive" was applied to a diocese exhibiting "a general predisposition towards liberal activism and...

SAGINAW, Mich. — Seminarian Rich Budd, 25, knows exactly how to reach Bishop Robert Carlson if he has any questions or concerns. “On my cell phone — on speed dial — is the bishop’s cell phone number,� said Budd. “And there’s definitely been nights where I’ve had to call him.�He noted that seminarians elsewhere are unsure if their bishop is as accessible.“We have a real personal relationship,� Budd. “Not every seminarian has that gift.�Budd is one of 19 men from the Diocese of Saginaw who are discerning a call to the priesthood. That’s a big increase from just three years...

ROME — Rome’s largest English-speaking national seminaries are detecting an increase in numbers of vocations after a less fruitful period in the early part of the decade.The Pontifical North American College, the Venerable English College and the Pontifical Irish College are all reporting higher numbers of candidates for the priesthood compared to a few years ago. “We’ve seen a steady increase to the diocesan priesthood in the United States, and we are now seeing the benefit of that in the college,” said Father Dennis Gill, media spokesman at the North American College. He noted that vocations to religious orders are...

The Rev. Ed Cipot at his Holy Child parish on Staten Island, where he watched the Mets’ playoff games. Ed Cipot was eating and drinking his way through the New York Mets 1977 Christmas party at a restaurant in Shea Stadium when a priest began walking toward him from across the room. Mr. Cipot immediately wondered what he had done wrong. Instead, the priest, the Rev. Joseph C. DiSpenza, simply asked, “You’re a Catholic, aren’t you?”As a matter of fact, that was true. As a matter of consequence, Mr. Cipot’s Roman Catholicism seemed not particularly relevant, at least to him....

Supporting the Priesthood, God’s Gift to His Eucharistic Community United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Presidential Address - Bishop William S. Skylstad, Bishop of SpokaneWashington D.C. – November 14, 2005 My Dear Brother Bishops, Once again, we in solidarity and fraternity gather in plenary session to carry on the work and mission of the Church.  I begin with a word of heartfelt thanks to you for the opportunity you gave me last November to serve as your president of our episcopal conference.  Though the responsibilities of the president are indeed daunting, especially when they are added to the ministry of...

‘More than just a hiking trip’http://www.pittsburghcatholic.org/newsarticles_more.phtml?id=1761 http://tinyurl.com/nvcz3 Friday September 22, 2006 by: Bob DeWitt Brian DeFazio felt the call to the priesthood long before he hiked the rugged mountains of northern New Mexico in July, taking part in a high adventure leadership program with other Catholic Boy Scouts. Now he’s even more certain that he wants to become a priest. Brian, 16, of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Pleasant Hills, may be the first Boy Scout from the Diocese of Pittsburgh to be chosen for the biannual St. George Trek at Philmont Scout Ranch, sponsored by the National Catholic...

ALTOETTING, Germany, SEPT. 11, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI stressed that if Catholics pray with profound faith the Church will receive the vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life that it needs. The Pope expressed this conviction when celebrating Vespers this evening with religious and seminarians of Bavaria and members of the Society for Spiritual Vocations in the Basilica of St. Anne in the Marian shrine of Altoetting. "God's harvest is indeed great, and it needs laborers," said the Holy Father. "In the so-called Third World -- in Latin America, in Africa and in Asia -- people are waiting for heralds...

With strong faith, seminarian stood up to Castro and was expelled from Cuba Cuban-born Enrique Corona, a diocesan seminarian, most likely has never heard of Richard Stockton, one of the America's Founding Fathers. Although separated by 230 years of history, both men have this in common - each of them put his own freedom on the line, enduring a prison sentence for having gathered up the courage to put pen to paper in voice of freedom.   At the dawn of the American Revolution, Stockton, a New Jerseyan, made the brave decision to sign the Declaration of Independence - an act...

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Silently processing out of the sacristy of St. Peter's Basilica at 7 a.m. each day, the altar servers look like angels, but the women who cook and clean for them say they are normal boys. Well, maybe not totally normal. After all, these 11- to 18-year-olds live at the Vatican during the school year. During the 2005-06 academic year, 21 of them ate, slept, studied and occasionally created chaos at the St. Pius X Pre-seminary inside the Vatican walls. Father Enrico Radice, rector of the pre-seminary, said four students graduated from high school in June, and...

... or so claims the Washington Post: Trying to Hook More Youths on PriesthoodIn this era of Eminem and Britney Spears, of sexy sitcoms and sexier commercials, of high-speed Internet and instant gratification, a life of celibacy devoted to God can be a hard sell to a teenager.So as the nation's Roman Catholic leaders gathered recently and watched a video called "Fishers of Men," designed to draw young men to the priesthood, they had good reason to worry about the future of their chosen way of life.Church leaders have long been aware of the statistics. There are now about...

Msgr. James McDonald is known to his fellow priests as the “vocations pastor.� He was appointed rector of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception earlier this year and presented his first candidates for ordination June 10 at the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y.’s St. Agnes Cathedral. Msgr. McDonald, 64, has never taught in a seminary and holds no advanced degrees in theology. But Rockville Centre Bishop William Murphy said he tapped the long-time pastor because Msgr. McDonald holds “a doctorate in priesthood,� and is “an extraordinary mentor and leader of the men,� as demonstrated by his tireless recruitment of vocations....

Identical twins James and Joseph Campbell's first names came from the same Catholic priest. Asked at age 5 what they wanted to be, they simultaneously answered: "priest." They used to play at the profession, using a Sears Roebuck Mass kit that Catholic families kept at home for emergencies. The Campbell boys served Communion wafers they'd fashioned from bread. Their parents never had to force them to go to daily Mass at 6:30 a.m. "It wasn't an obligation for us, but rather something we saw as cool," Joseph Campbell said. So it's no surprise that the 26-year-old Erie twins are being...

Previously I had posted on identical twins Gary and Todd Koenigsknecht who are entering St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. Via The World .. IMHO is a story about James and Joseph Cambell who are identical twins and were ordained together as priests on Jun 23rd.Deacons James and Joseph Campbell—twin brothers who will be ordained at St. Peter Cathedral in Erie along with their classmate, Deacon Marc Solomon, on Friday, June 23—hope to be up to the challenge. “We have to enkindle the fire of Christ’s love in the hearts of his people,� says James. The youngest...

Seventh Trumpet Mass on the Feast of Corpus Christi June 18th -3pm - Veterans Park, Manchester, NH Each month over one thousand people have gathered for the Seventh Trumpet Mass for priestly vocations at St. Joseph Cathedral. We will celebrate the next Mass on June 18th the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, at an outdoor Mass followed by a Eucharistic Procession. This is an unbelievable opportunity for Catholics to come together to publicly profess their faith in the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and to pray for vocations to the priesthood!...

With so many Catholics coming to Mass each week, with so many enthusiastic young people in our schools, religious education classes and confirmation programs, with so much vitality evident in every corner of our Church of Los Angeles (witness the thousands participating in the recent Religious Education Congress), why is there such a precipitous decline in the number of priests to serve our Church? In the last two years, I have gone to deanery meetings in every part of the archdiocese, met with many principals, DRE's, youth ministers and catechists, attended lots of parent meetings, and at each I ask...

In recent times, I have confidently assured people that the cultural assault on human life and Christian virtue cannot get worse. Remain steadfast. Cling to hope. Set your sights on God's greater gifts. Resist fear and dispel despondency. Persevere in faith, hope and love. Suddenly, a new five-part series from A&E stands to make a liar out of me. Amish in the City was bad enough, and something like Wife Swap was well-nigh inconceivable, but neither merits a second thought compared to God or the Girl. This self-described documentary, which premiers Easter Sunday (April 16), purports to capture the internal...

KOENIGSTEIN, Germany, APRIL 11, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Vocations in India seem to be booming as increasing numbers of young men stepping forward to prepare for the priesthood. In a recent interview with the international charity Aid to the Church in Need, Father Ignatius Prasad, rector of the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Chennai (formerly Madras), gave this optimistic assessment of the Church. The priest explained that his seminary now has 286 students and that -- due to a lack of space -- he had to turn away 23 candidates, who have been forced to continue their training elsewhere. The seminary is...

Los Angeles, Apr. 06, 2006 (CNA) - A new five-part documentary, billed as a reality show, about priestly vocations will premiere Easter Sunday. “God or the Girl” on A&E is about four young men trying to decide whether to enter the priesthood. The network is calling "God or the Girl" a serious documentary about the difficult journey involved in choosing a life devoted entirely to God. However, it has a reality-show feel to it to keep it interesting and appealing for primetime television. "God or the Girl" follows 28-year-old Joe Adair of Cleveland, Ohio; 21-year-old Dan DeMatte of Columbus, Ohio;...

ROME - In 2003, Cristina Pavone, left her Dublin, Ireland, apartment, her boyfriend, and her steady job with Hertz Rent-a-Car, and went home to Italy to join a Franciscan order. Last summer, she took her final vows and became a cloistered nun. Today, Sister Cristina, 31, lives with 179 other monks and nuns at a small red-brick monastery north of Rome. She reads, does chores, meets visitors, and prays five times daily, starting at 3 a.m. "I was far from God," she says quietly, wrapping her hands around a hot mug in the monastery's drafty dining hall. "I experimented with...

Pictures and text showing the activities last Saturday of Cardinal Lehmann at Carnival and Cardinal Danneels at an empty vocations conference.

The Catholic Church in the United States is in a state of profound transition. A priest or layman transported through time from 1965 to 2005 would be astonished and most likely disconcerted by the dramatic changes that have taken place in the 40 years following the close of Vatican II. Evaluating American Influence Of course, the hierarchical and sacramental nature of the Church remains unchanged. What, however, has clearly changed are the numbers and status of laity, religious, and clergy in the mystical Body of Christ. Related to this is the altered understanding of their roles in the Church. I...